Y-slot blank cutting machine



July 27, 1965 l. L. KAUFFMAN 3,193,704

Y-SLOT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 19, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 PIE: 'z. $4

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. l Y-sLoT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR.

.Zfmv L. KAUFFMAA/ Ffm dylan/@vs July 27, 1965 l. L. KAUFFMAN Y-sLoT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Shee'l 4 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 .2N .EN me .BON

INVENTOR. .Z1/4N L. KAUFFMA/v BY y YTORAEVS l MKM July 27, 1965 l. L. KAUFFMAN Y-SLOT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 INVENTOR. Z'ww L. A/AaFF/M/v m. MNHN ALW July 27, 1965 1. L.. KAUFFMAN Y-sLoT BLANK CUTTING MAcHNE 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 19, 1958 July 27, 1965 l. l.. KAUFFMAN 3,196,704

Y-SLOT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. IVA/v L. Kaz/HMM# Vw MW Arran/yn:

July 27, 1965 l. L. KAUFFMAN 3,196,704

Y-SLOT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 IE! .25' F15'. 25' E 26 v l l J--- H31 3g INVENTOR, In 4. Kauf-FM4# Rif/W MWL July 27, 1965 l. L.. KAUFFMAN 3,196,704

Y-SLOT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec., 19, 1958 12 sheets-sheet 1o PIE. El

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INVENTOR. IVA/v Mu-FM4# BYWMW July 27, 1965 y l. L. KAUFFMAN 3,196,704r

)jt-SLOT BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19,1958 l' 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 zs'a FIEL EE INVENTOR.

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Y-SLOT BLANK CUTTING INIACHIIIIU: I

Filed Dec. 19, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 JNVENToR. .Zm/v L. KAI/M4N Lf/ I United States Patent O 3,196,704 Y-SLGT ELANK CUTTING MACHINE Evan L. Kauffman, Minneapoiis, Minn., assigner, by mestre assignments, to EX-Cell-Q Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filled Dec. i9, 1958, Ser. No. 781,721 S Claims. (Cl. 83-345) This invention relates to new and novel apparatus for forming Y-entry slots in box blanks. More particularly this invention relates to fully adjustably Y-entry knife assemblies, apparatus for rotatably mounting said assembly, and apparatus for automatically feeding blanks to have Y-entry slots cut therein by said knife assemblies.

In the prior art, cutting Y-entry slots in a partition for a box has been a two-stage operation in which first an elongated slot is cut in the blank and then the blank is sent through a machine to have a V-shaped notch cut at the forward edge of the elongate slot such that a Y-entry slot is formed in said blank; or else a reciprocal punch is used for forming said Y-entry slot in the blank. Using the former method of forming the Y-entry slot in a blank involves a two-stage operation whereas the second method required the use of reciprocating equipment. Either of the two above mentioned methods or combinations of said methods of forming Y-entry slots require a substantially greater time to form said slots than that required by using the apparatus of the present invention. Further, there are no teachings in the prior art of providing Y-entry knife assemblies that are fully adjustable for cutting Y-entry slots in a plurality of blanks in a continuous operation at relatively high speeds.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and novel apparatus for cutting Y-entry slots in a plurality of blanks in a continuous operation. A further object of this invention is to provide new and novel apparatus whereby the dimensions of the Y-entry slots to be cut in blanks may be varied by a few simple adjustments. That is, the length of the slot, the width of the slot, and/ or the depth of the V-shaped portion of the Y-slot may be varied by making a few simple adjustments and/ or interchanging a portion of the knife assemblies, said adjustment or interchange requiring a relatively short time interval to be made.

A still further object of this invention is to provide rotatably mounted Y-entry knife assemblies made up of at least one male and one cooperating female member for cutting Y-entry slots, said male and female members constituting a cooperating pair of knife assemblies. The male member is to include a slot cutting element which may be readily adjusted to vary the length of the slot to be cut in a blank. Additionally the male and female members are to be constructed such that the slot cutting element of the knife assembly may be readily interchanged with another slot cutting element for varying the width of the slot, said interchange requiring only a few simple operations.

Still an additional object of this invention is to provide a pair of cooperating rotatably mountable knife assemblies for forming Y-entry slots, wherein one of said assemblies includes a pair of knife blade mounting members having a iiange portion to adjustably retain an appropriately shaped knife blade therebetween. Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of cooperating rotatably mounted knife assemblies for forming Y-entry slots wherein one of said assemblies includes a pair of knife blade mounting members and a plurality of interchangeable knife blades for forming slots in different height ranges. Still another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of knife blades in different height ranges wherein each blade is adjustably positionable in an appropriate mounting member for forming a slot of any height hee Within its respective height range. A still further object of this invention is to provide a pair of cooperating knife assemblies to be rotatably mounted, said assemblies each being made up of adjustable, positionable portions to provide adjustments to yield a clean cut V notch portion in a Y-entry slot.

Additionally it is an object of this invention to provide structure whereby the spacing of the male and female members of the Y-entry knife assemblies may be varied to make provision for cutting Y-entry slots in blanks of different thicknesses, said blanks to be passed between the rentry knife assemblies for forming the slots therein. Further, it is an object of this invention to provide mechanism to vary the depth of the V portion of the Y-slot cut in blanks by the slotting apparatus.

Still further it is an object of this invention to provide anti-backlash mechanism to minimize the backlash in the gears driving the Y-entry knife assembly shafts.

Additionally it is an objectof this invention to provide new and novel mechanisms for minimizing the amount of backlash in the driving connections between the coperating knife assembly mounting shafts of a slotting machine, said mechanism including a plurality of gears mounted on the same shaft which are adjustably positionable with respect to one another. Still another additional object of this invention is to provide mechanism for minimizing the backlash in the gear driving connections between the cooperating pair of knife assembly mounting shafts of a slotting machine, said mechanism including eccentric adjustment members.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide hand operated means for rotating the eccentric anti-backlash mechanism for making appropriate adjustments thereof.

Additionally it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for rotating the knife assembly shafts which automatically disengages when the machine is operated under power, said apparatus to facilitate making adjustments of the machine.

Still another objective of this invention is to provide a fine control for varying the closeness of intermeshing of the respective male and female knife assemblies used for cutting Y-entry slots in box bianks so as to provide a positive cutting control of said knife assemblies. Still a further objective of this invention is to provide a fine adjustment for `adjustably varying the relative angular position of the knife assembly mounting shafts after the drive connections have been made.

Further it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for cutting a plurality of Y-entry slots of different dimensions in a single blank. Still further it is an objective of this invention to provide apparatus for cleaning the Y-entry knife assemblies as they rotate, said apparatus to free the material cut out of the slots from the knife assemblies.

Another objective of this invention is to provide apparatus for forming Y-entry slots in very thin blanks and also in relatively narrow blanks. A further objective of this invention is to provide a hold-down attachment for slot forming apparatus that includes a brush for retaining a plurality of narrow blanks in alignment between the blank feeding mechanism and the slot forming members. An additional objective of this invention is to provide a hold attachment for slot forming apparatus that includes side guides for retaining a plurality of narrow blanks in v alignment between the blank feeding mechanism and the slot forming members.

Other and further objectives are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described in the claims, and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims,

` n sa the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated by reference to the drawing in which the corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which: Y v

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the forward end of the Y-entry slot blank cutting apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slotter portion of the Y-entry blank cutting apparatus illustrating the mounting of a plurality of pairs of Y-entry knife assemblies for cutting Y-entry slots in a blank;

FIGURE 3 is a partial side sectional View of this invention illustrating the mounting of a pair of cooperating Y-entry knife assemblies and the mechanism for continuously feeding blanks to be slotted to the Y-entry knife assemblies;

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view of this invention taken along the lineand looking in the directions of the arrows 4 4 of FIGURE 3, said view showing the first embodiment of the mechanism for varying the spacing of the knife assemblies, the amount of backlash and the relative position of intermeshing of a cooperating pair of knife assemblies;

FIGURE 5 is a front partial sectional view of this invention taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 5--5 of FIGURE 2 to illustrate the feed mechanism, the blank holder mechanism and the mechanism for varying the depth of the V-notch in a Y slotg FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial side view of the invention illustrating the gearing for driving the knife assembly mounting shafts including the structure of the iirst embodiment for adjusting the amount of backlash and making the micrometer adjustment;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of this invention taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows '7 7 of FIGURE 6 to illustrate the rst embodiment of the anti-backlash adjustment mechamsm;

FIGURES 8 and 9 are vertical sectional view of two embodiments of hold-down or shoe attachments that may be connected to the slide gate mechanism when the blanks are of a height that is less than the distance between the slide gate and the center of the knife assembly mounting shafts. The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 8 includes brushes for holding the blanks in a horizontal plane whereas the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 9 shows solid metal members for performing the same function; i

FIGURE 10 shows the male Y-entry knife assembly of the first embodiment disassembled to illustrate the structural features of the component parts thereof;

FIGURE 11 shows a female Y-entry knife assembly of the first embodiment disassembled to illustrate the structural features of the component parts thereof;

FIGURE l2 shows a cross sectional end view of the male and female Y-entry knife assemblies of the first embodiment with a blank position therebetween, said view illustrating the mounting of the respective component parts of each knife assembly and of the assemblies mounted on their respective shafts;

FIGURES 13 to 15 inclusive show a side view of the pair of cooperating Y-entry knife assemblies mounted on their respective shafts for rotation with a blank positioned between said knife assemblies. FIGURE 13 shows the position of the blank between a pair of Y-entry knife assemblies immediately after the knife assemblies have started to cut the V-shaped portion of the Y-entry slot. FIGURE 14 illustrates the relative positions of the blank and the Y-entry assemblies as the elongated portion of the slot is being formed in said blank. FIGURE 15 illustrates the position of the blank between a pair of knife assemblies immediately after the slotted portion has been cut in said blank;

FIGURES 16 through 18 inclusive illustrate top views of a blank and the female member of the Y-entry knife assemblies, said view being taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows l-l, 11T- i?, and IS--IS of FIGURES 13 to 15 respectively. The portion of the male knife that is cutting the slot in the blank in the aforementioned positions is shown in section;

FIGURE 19 illustrates a blank that has a plurality of Y-entry slots cut therein to show that the length, the width, and the angle of the V portion of the Y-slot may be of different dimensions for each of the respective slots which is cut in the blank during a single passage through the slot cutting mechanism;

FIGURE 20 is an enlarged fragmentary side View of a second embodiment of the cutting control and anti-backlash mechanism of this invention, said view including eccentric adjustment members for varying the amount of backlash between the gears and for making a micrometer adjustment, and being similar to the view illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the first embodiment of said mechanism;

FIGURE 221 is an enlarged vertical sectional vieW of the invention taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 21-21 of FIGURE 20 to illustrate the second embodiment of the anti-backlash adjustment mechanism, saidvview showing the eccentrically mounted gear members that drivenly connect the gears on the female knife mounting shaft to the gears on the male knife mounting shaft;

FIGURE 22 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the invention taken along the line and looking in the direction of theY arrows 22-22 of FIGURE 20 -to illustrate a portion of the second embodiment of the anti-backlash and cutting control adjustment, said view illustrating the micrometer adjustment and the hand wheel for rotating the knife mounting shaft when various adjustments are being made; Y

FIGURES 295A,` 23B, and 23C illustrate three different knife blades of the second embodiment of the male knife assembly; the knife blade of FIGURE 23A being used for forming slots in the range of relatively small slot heights, the knife blade at 23B being used for forming slots in the range of intermediate slot heights, and the knife blade of FIGURE 23 being used for forming slots in the range of relatively large slot heights;

FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary top view of the invention, said view illustrating the second embodiment of the blank hold-down means along with illustrating the stroke length of the feed plate and a blank at the end of said stroke;

FIGURE 24 shows a sectional end view of a second embodiment of the male and female Y-entry knife assemblies of this invention, said View illustrating the mounting of the respective component parts of each of the knife assemblies with said assemblies being mounted on Vtheir respective shafts.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG- URES 1 and 2, there is'shown a perspective view of the forward end of the Y-entry slot cutting apparatus and of the rearward end showing the slotting mechanism thereof, the apparatus being generally designated 16. For the purpose of convenience in describing the apparatus, said apparatus will be considered as being made up of the following portions: frame 11, feed mechanism l2, slotter section 13, anti-backlash and cutting control mechanism 15 and power drive means 9. The power drive means 9 (FIGURE 1) is mounted on the left side of the frame Il, said power means including a motor (not shown) mounted on the frame for driving the pulley 16 through pulley belt 21. The pulley I6 is mounted on a shaft I9, said shaft being journalled for rotation in hub 2li. The hub 20 is rmly secured to a mounting base 22, the mounting base being pivotally secured to the base Il by pivot pin 22a and firmly held in an adjusted pivoted position by pulley adjustment bolt 22h. The belt 23 connects pulley 16 to pulley 24, the latter pulley being mounted on the ensayos te female knife assembly shaft 26. A guard 2?; encloses the aforementioned pulleys and belts.

A horizontal rectangular table is mounted on the frame such that the forward edge 36a thereof extends outwardly beyond a vertical plane passed through said frame; and the opposite or near edge 30h extends rearwardly to a point adjacent to the slotter section 13. A motor starter housing 31 having appropriate electric leads (not shown) connected to the motor and to an electrical source is mounted on the lower forward portion of the table.

A transverse groove 32 extending substantially width of the table is formed in the upper center portion of said table. A generally Uwshaped cover 33 is mounted on the top surface of the table such that it may be moved to cover the groove and to cover mechanism that extends outwardly beyond the front edge of the frame during the operation of the machine, said mechanism to be described hereinafter. An elongated feed plate 77, elongated in a direction perpendicular to the groove, is connected to the aforementioned mechanism, said feed plate being mounted for translator movement on the top surface of the table.

Formed integral with the side portions fla and 11b of the frame are mounting blocks llc. The mounting blocks have appropriate slots and apertures formed therein for mounting structure to be described hereinafter.

A vertical plate having a pair of elongated extensions 41 formed integral with either side thereof is mounted on and between the mounting blocks. Each of the extensions has an aperture in its outer end portion such that bolts 42 may be used to secure the extensions in appropriate slots 43 formed in the forward vertical portion of the mounting block-s 11C. The adjacent horizontal surfaces of each of the pairs of the elongated extensions form a guideway 4d for slideably mounting a blank guide assembly 45 therein. The slots are enlarged at 44o adjacent to the central portion of the plate lt? so that the guide assemblies may be removed.

A pair of spaced, elongated, vertically extending back guides 46 are secured on the central portion of the plate 4u by cap screws 46a. A control gate or slide gate 47 having a forward rectangular planar surface in the same plane as the forward surface of the guides 46 is slideabiy mounted i-n a recessed portion formed in the plate between said guideways, said recessed portion extending the height of the vertical plate. A pair of spaced apart ears 48 having apertures 43a are for-med integral with the bottom edge of the control gate such that attachments described hereinafter may be secured to said control gate.

A pair of spaced, back short vertical guides 64 extend upwardly beyond the raised position of the control gate. Each short guide 64 is secured to a plate 65, said plate being secured to the back guide adjacent to the respective short guide. The `short guides form bearing surfaces for 'holding the back edges of blanks of relatively short lengths in place.

An offset 51 (FIGURE 3) is secured to the m-idportion of the control gate such that it may be moved in a vertical direction in the recess 52 formed in the front surface of the plate 40. An adjustment bolt 53 is threaded in the vertical opening formed in the plate to engage the top ysurface of the offset to push the offset downwardly against the upward force exerted against the lower `surface of `said offset by the spring 53, said spring being set against the bottom surface of recess 52. The -adjustment bolt controls the vertical height of the lower horizontal surface of the control gate above the surface of the table.

The guideway assembly .45 includes a generally T shaped .bracket 56 having an aperture in the straight leg 56a for inserting bolt 57 therethrough for slideably attaching said bracket to the vertical plate. Thebolt 57 extends through the guideway slot 44 .and is threaded into la gib 57a located on the opposite side of the vertical plate from said T shaped bracket. Vertically elongated side guides 54 having a plantar surface generally perpendicular to the planar surface of the vertical plate 40 are secured to the cross bar portion Sb of said T bracket. An enlongated horizontal rod 59 is secured in an offset 56e formed integral with the cross bar portion, said rod being positioned above and extending parallel to the surface of the table, and lalso extending outwardly from and perpendicular tothe planar surface of the verical plate. l

A front guide 58 which is elongated in a vertical direction and has a planar surface parallel to the surface of the vertical plate is secured to a clamp 6). The clamp 60 is slidelably retained in Iposition on rod S9 by a clamp bolt 62 that is inserted through an laperture formed in the upper leg 6th; of the clamp and threaded into an aperture formed in the lower leg b of said cla-mp. Thus by loosening the clamp bolt 62, the front guide may be adjustably positioned along the length .of the horizontal rod.

`From the foregoing it may be seen that the side guides 54 may be spaced `apart from or closer to one another while at the `same time the front guides may be independently adjusted either closer to or further from the vertical plate at?. Thus the guides may :be properly positioned to firmly hold a stack of box blanks 220 in position to be fe-d to the slotter mechanism.

The guide assembly having been described, the structure for feeding said blanks into the slotter mechanism will now be set forth. An elongated slide bar '70 (see FGURE 3) having an elongated slot 71 formed in the central portion thereof is slidably mounted in the groove 32. The slide bar is retained in said groove by gibs 73, there being one -gib positioned on either side of said slide bar in the groove. The gibs are secured to the table by cap screws 72 which are inserted in apertures formed in the gibs and secured in threaded apertures formed in the table.

A shoulder 75 is Iformed within the slotted slide .bar to exten-d .around the perimeter of the lslot 71. A roller 74 having .a vertical axis of rotation is rotatably mounted for traveling the length of the slot, the lower peripheral porti-ons of the roller being supported on shoulder 75. The roller 74 is rotatably lmounted on shaft 76, said shaft extending in a vertical direction.

A slotted portion 33e is cut out of the vertical walls of the lcover 33 forward of the shaft 76 so that the feed plate '77 may be retracted lbeneath an end portion of said cover. The cover extends forwardly of the t-able to form .a guard to prevent injury to a person when the slide bar reciprocates in the groove. The cover is pivotally mounted on the table.

A guide plate 78 is mounted on the forward edge Stlb of the table adjacent to the Y-entry knife assemblies, said guide plate 78 being secured to the table by screws 79. -As may be noted in :FIGURE 3 the forward edge of the guide plate extends outwardly beyond the edge of the table to a lpoint adjacent where the appropriate elements of Y-entry knife assemblies intermesh. It also should .be noted that the forward edge of the table is concave-d so as to overiay `a portion of the female knife assemblies, thus providing a structure for supporting blanks of a relative narrow height as they 4are fed between the lrotating knife assemblies.

Mounted under the central rear portion of lthe table is cam gear housing St) (see FIGURES 3 and 5), said housing being secured to the table by bolts 81 and members l gear housing.

88a, Sb, and 88. -A vertical cam gear shaft 82 is xedly mounted in collar 83 by a set screw 9S, said collar being formed integral with the bottom wall of the cam Mounted for rotation on the top end of the cam shaft S2 and within the housing S0 is a generally horizontal cam 84 having a generally heart-shaped channel S5 formed in the top surface thereof. A vertical tube S6 formed integral with the cam 84 and depending therefrom enclosed the upper peripheral surface of the shaft 82, said tube aiding in stabilizing the cam on the shaft. rIhe lower edge $511 of the tube bears on the e anser/ofi upper edge of the collar 83 and thus supports the cam in position -beneath the table.

A cain follower 9@ having a lower follower roller 90a mounted in the heartshaped channel 85 is mounted on fa shaft 99C that extends upwardly through slot 91 formed in ithe ta'ble. A roller 90b is rotatably mounted on shaft 90C -such that its circumerential portions bear against the walls of slot 91 while -it rotates, `slot 91 being located beneath slot 7T.. The upper end of the shaft Stic is integrally connected to the lower end of the .shaft '76. A nut 94 is threaded `on the upper end of the shaft 76 sothat the roller 7 4- rnany be forced down against the shoulder portion 75 of the slide bar 70 and also against the small roller 96d located between roller 74 and roller 9h11. The small rol-ler has ia diameter slightly smaller than the width of the slot '7l which is formed in the shoulder 75. -By tightening the nut 94, the portion `of the shoulder loc-ated between the rollers 7d and 96h is maintained therebetween since said shoulder is firmly held in place lrelative to said rollers.

Thus as the cam follower is moved as a result of rotation 4of the cam tid, the rotary motion of the cam is changed to reciprocal motion in the slide bar. By loosening the nut 94 the slide bar may be reciprocated freely with yrespect to the cam follower, thereby providing foiadjustably positioning the feed plate independent of the rotation of the cam. `for example, if blanks of a relatively large height were t-o be slotted, the cam may' be rotated to bring the slide bar to its rearmost position. Next the nut 9d would be loosened, the slide bar would be moved away from the Y-entry knife assemblies and the nutgwould .again be tightened to retain the slide bar in the prop-er adjusted position. Thus, provision is made for slotting blanks of ldifferent heights.

An angle gear 97 for driving the cam is secured in. place on the tube 86 by a set screw 93. The gear 97 is :driven by a second angle gear 97 which is -mountednat right tangles thereto on the drive shaft The drive shaft is jo-urnalled for rotation in bushing itl@ ian-d bearing `96, said :bushing being mounted in the cam gear housing and said bearing 96 being secured to the under .surface of the table'.

The drive shaft extends outwardly through an appropriate :aperture in the frame side wall to a feed timing mechanism, .generally designated as fol. The `feed timing mechanism includes a sprocket `lltlS drivenly connected by the chain 159 to an appropriate female drive Vgear loll mounted on the female knife assembly shaft. The sprocket 105 having an :appropriately shaped central .aperture is rotatably mountedon a disk led, said disk -'being keye-d on the drive shaft dil. The disk has a shouler y10aa to .prevent the sprocket from being vmoved in a horizontal direction toward the frame.

Also mounted on the drive shaft in engagement with the outer vertical surfaces of the sprocket 1% and the disk 104 is a dial 106. A bolt llt7cz threaded into the outer end of the shaft has a washer 107 mounted thereon that bears against the vertical surface of the disk. By tightening the bolt 107er, the washer 107 forces the dial inwardly against the sprocket, said sprocket in turn being forced into tight frictional engagement with the disk such that it will vcause the disk to rotate and drive the yshaft 99. The purpose of providing the feed timing mechanism Will be described thereinafter.

The struc-ture of the feed timing mechanism having been set forth, the slotter mechanism will now be described. For purposes of facilitating the description of said mechanism it will be assumed that the iirst einbodiment knife assemblies '7, 8 is being used. The female Y-entry knife assembly shaft 26 and the male Y- entry knife assembly shaft 27 are journalled for rotation in appropriate structure mounted in appropriate apertures formed in the side Walls lla, lib of the frame. At least one cooperating male and female knife assembly 8, 7 are mounted on each of the respective shafts 2o and 27, said shafts being adjustably spaced so that the knife blade 114 will intermesh with appropriate portions of the female knife assembly when said shafts are rotated. As previously mentioned, the female knife assembly shaft '2,5 is driven by a pulley 24 mounted on one end thereof. The structure for driving the male knife assembly shaft 27 will be set forth hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGURES 10-12 inclusive, the structure of the first embodiment of the male Y-entry knife :assembly will now be set forth. The male knife assembly t; is made up of a male die liti, a knife blade M4, a spacer 115, a ring and associated elements for adjustably assembling the aformentioned members and retaining them on the shaft 27. The male die 11d has a central aperture Mila formed therein, the diameter of which is vslightly larger than the diameter of the shaft 27 on which it is .to be mounted. The keyway llo formed in the inner peripheral wall of the male die tits over the elongated key 117 mounted in the peripheral portion of the shaft 27, said key and keyway cooperating to prevent the mail die from rotating relative to the shaft 27. A set screw 111 threaded in aperture 11h12 bears against the key to adjustably retain the male knife assembly in position along the longitudinal length of the shaft, said aperture being substantially parallel to a diameter of the die and extending from the outer circumferential wall of the die into the keyway.

An annular portion of the male die is cut away to form a shoulder i106', said shoulder having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the male die. The outer diameter of the shoulder is slightly less than the inner radius of curvature of the semi-circular spacer 115 and semi-circular knife blade 1M. The axial length of the shoulder is slightly less than the axial length of spacer and knife. Pour space recesses 119 are formed in the surface of the die opposite the shoulder therethrough. Thus the shoulder forms a structure for mounting the knife blade and spaceron the die as will become more apparent hereinafter.

An additional portion of `the male die adjacent the shoulder 110C is milled away to form the annular flange Mild, said flange being formed integral with the die and having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the shoulder. The annular iange forms structure for mounting the ring lf3. i

The ring lf3 has annular recessed portions formed in the inner planar space thereof to form a shoulder 113C. The inner diameter of the shoulder 113C is slightly more than the outer diameter of the shoulder 114g, lllSa formed respectively ori the knife and the semi-circular spacer. Thus when the knife 114 and spacer M5 are mounted on the shoulder 110C of the male die and the ring 113 is fitted on the annular flange lilla? such that the shoulder portion 113e thereof faces inwardly towards shoulder lll/4a, H551, and lltlc of the knife, spacer and male die respectively, the ring will retain the knife and spacer in position to make up the male knife assembly. Once the aforementioned members of the male knife assembly have been positioned as set forth above, clamp screws lllS are inserted through the arcuate slots llltle in the male die and threaded into the corresponding openings 11311 formed in the ring to hold said members in their assembled relationship.

The outer diameters of the ring and the male die are equal. @n each of the outer peripheral portions of the male die and the ring there is formed curved offset portions lltf and llff respectively. The outer radii of each of the offsets in equal to the outer radii of the knife mounted on the die. The circumferential length of the offsetis less than a quarter of the circumference of the male die. Each of the offsets Milf and llSf are slanted inwardly opposite the direction of rotation (arrow 121) towards the planar surface of the knife blade to provide pointed portions lilith and lih so that when the die and ring are assembled a V-shaped cutting surface will be formed to cut a V-shaped notch in the blank to be slotted. The curved end illllilg and jilg of the offsets Hilf and llSf opposite from the pointed portions are concaved outwardly for purposes to be xplained hereinafter.

A portion of the annular flange lltlc is cut away to form a key lltlfz in the outer peripheral portion thereof. A pair of transverse holes lla parallel to a diameter of the ring are drilled in the outer periphery thereof such that they extend through the inner peripheral wall of the ring. 1when the ring is mounted on the die, a pair of set screws 113]' threaded in the holes llsa will bear against key lliln. The pair of screws form an adjustment which will be described hereinafter. A radial aperture 116m is drilled through the male die such that a locking screw lf2 may be threaded therein to engage the shaft for locking the male knife assembly in position on the male knife assembly shaft 27.

Pour spaced recess portions H9 are formed in the planar surface of the male die, each 'of said recesses having slots ltle located in the central portion thereof. As a result of the recesses formed in the male die, the hex heads of the clamping `screws 118 inserted in the slots will not extend axially out beyond the planar surface of the `male die. Additionally, the recesses are semicircular such that a wrench may be used for tightening and loosening the clamping screws.

The structure of the first embodiment of the male knife assembly having been described, the structure of the first embodiment of the female Y-entry knife assembly will now be set forth. The structure of the female knife assembly 7 is the same as that of the male knife assembly except for the differences set forth hereinafter. The outer diameters of the circular portions of the female die l2@ are the same as the corresponding portions of the male die 11d except there are no counter parts of the :shoulder llilc or offset Milf of the male die formed in the female die.

in place of the offset llltlf, a cut-out 126i is formed in the peripheral portion of the female die l2@ such that the offset lief will rotatably intermesh therein when the male and female knife assemblies are mounted on their respective shafts and rotated. Similarly a cut-out 1123i is formed in the outer periphery of the female ring member T23 such that the male collar offset 1131 will rotatably ft therein when the knife assemblies 7, 8 are rotated as previously set forth. Inwardly slanted radial walls lZtlh, 123k are formed in the cut-out portions 126i, 1231 respectively to be adjusted to come within close proximity and substantially parallel to the radial walls of the pointed portions 1.1611, 113k as the male and female knife assemblies are rotated to form Y-entry slots in box blanks. Due to the shape of the yoffsets and the cut-outs the adjacent peripheral portions of the cooperating male and female knife assemblies may be rotated very close to one another without having metal portions intermeshing as said assemblies are rotated.

it should be noted that the axial thickness of the female `annular spacers l25 is slightly greater than the axial thickness of the cutting portion of the knife. Similarly the outer radius of the female spacer 125 is equal to the outer radius of the knife member minus a dimension slightly greater than the radial height of the cutting portion lieb of the knife blade that extends outwardly beyond the male die.

lndents l25a, 125:5 .are formed in the female spacers so that when the clamping :screws M8 are inserted through the arcuate slots 12de formed in the female die and threaded into holes lZSb in the female ring 123, the female spacer members 125 will be held in position to form a complete assembly. The indents llZSb are formed in the mid section `of the inner peripheral portion of tl e spacer.

The indents 125g, 125!) are formed Vsuch that when the clamping screws are loosened, the female spacers may be readily removed from the female die and replaced with spacers of a different thickness. Similarly when the clamping screws 11S in the male knife assembly are loosened, the knife blade and the male spacer may be readily removed and replaced with a different slot knife and spacer of appropriate thickness. Thus provision is made for forming slots of different thicknesses using the same dies and ring portions.

The first embodiment of the male and female wire knife assemblies having been described, the second embodiment thereof will now be set forth. The male and female knife assemblies of the second embodiment have many similar structural features; therefore, for the most part only structural features of the second embodiment which differ from structural features the first embodiment will be set forth hereinafter.

The male knife assembly 25? includes an annular male die 252 having a central Iaperture 251 for mounting said assembly on a knife assembly mounting shaft 27. A radially extending aperture 259 is formed in the male die so the locking screws 122 may be threaded therein to bear against the shaft 27 for fixedly mounting said assembly on said shaft.

An annular portion 255 is cut out of the outer corner portion of the male die to form an axially extending flange 253. The annular portion cut out -of the male die is rectangular in cross section. A ring 254 is provided which is the same size and shape in cross section las the aforementioned annular portion 255 except that the axial width thereof is smaller than said annular portion by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the knife blade 27S, said knife blade being mounted between the adjacent axial surfaces or" said ring and male die.

The ring is retained in position on the annular flange by clamping screws 11S which are inserted through appropriate arcuate slots 257 formed in the ring and threaded into apertures in the male die, the slots being located in spaced recesses 25d similarly as the clamping screws 118 were located in spaced recesses 1119 formed in the knife assembly 8. An offset 26d having a pointed portion 261 is formed on the ring 254 and the male die 252 respectively 4in a manner similar to which said portions were formed on the respective members of the first embodiment of the male Y-entry knife assembly 8.

ln other words the main differences in the construction of the male knife assembly 256 from .the knife assembly 8 are that there is no shoulder corresponding to shoulder 114e of the first embodiment nor is there a shoulder corresponding to shoulder lille of the first embodiment formed -in the second embodiment of the male knife assembly. Thus the respective adjacent faces of the male die and the knife blade, and the ring rare parallel to one another.

The knife blade 275 is retained in position between the ring and the male die by a clamping screw llS which is inserted through the arcuate slot 257 and the knife slot 276 formed in the central portion of the blade and threaded into appropriate apertures formed in the annular ring. Similarly a spacer 258 having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the knife blade is retained in position between the ring and male die by screws H8, said spacer being located approximately diametrically across the male die from the knife blade. The radius of curvature of the outer surface of the spacer is equal to the radius of the curvature of the outer surface of the ring and of the male die. It is to be noted that the radius of curvature of the knife plate 275 is greater than the radius of curvature of the male ring and male die by an amount correspending to the difference in the radius of curvature of the knife blade 114 with respect to the male die and ring of male knife assembly 3 of the first embodiment.

The female knife assembly 270 of the second embodiment is constructed very similar to the female knife assembly of the first embodiment. The female knife assembly 270 includes an annular female die 271 having a felll male ring 272 mounted on the an-gular flange portion 269 thereof. The female ring retains spacers 273 on the aforementioned flange portion between adjacent planar surfaces of said ring and the surface of the female die.

When the female knife assembly 270 and the male knife assembly 250 are mounted on their respective shafts and are adjusted to be used, the offset 260 will intermesh in an appropriate cut-out 278 formed in the female die and female ring 272 respectively. The aforementioned cut-out has a V-shaped portion 279 that will receive the pointed portion 261 of the male die.

The radius of curvature of the female spacers 273 are sufficiently less than the radius of curvature of the female ring and die so that the outer radial portion 284 of the knife blade 275 may track therein when the knife assemblies 250, 270 are being used. A pair of transverse openings 277 (one shown) extending parallel to a diameter of the male and female ring are formed therein respectively to extend through the annular portion thereof similarly as the openings 113m, 1236i were formed in the male and female ring 113, 123 respectively.

In order to facilitate the description of the knife blade 275 of this invention it will be assumed that there are three different ranges of heights Z to be formed in box blanks. The range A will be considered to be slots of relatively small heights range B of medium height and the range C of relatively large heights, there being an overlap between each range. If the slots to be formed are of a height Z in the range of short heights, then the knife blade 27541 is used; if in the medium range, then 27511; and if in the range of relatively large heights, then the knife blade 275e is used. As may be noted from FIG- URES23A, 23B, and 23C, the plurality of knife blades covering the three height ranges may all be formed out of a single annular ring. As is illustrated in the aforementioned figures, the respective angular lengths are approximately 80 to ll0, and 170; however, it is to be understood these angular lengths are merely illustrative since a pluralityiof blades may be constructed from a single ring for covering height ranges of slots'if the angular lengths of the knife blades were of a different angular length. Also, each knife blade may be made of various other angular lengths as will be apparent as the description proceeds.

The purpose of providing a series of knife blades for cutting slots of different ranges of sizes (Z) is that if a single knife blade were provided to cover the entire range of heights of slots, then the arcuate slot 27d would be extended substantially the circumferential length of the knifeblade; said arcuate slot would weaken the knife blade structure. ln order to overcome this problem and also to facilitate making appropriate adjustments which will be described hereinafter, a series of knife blades of different angular lengths have been provided.

The reasonfor providing a series of different sizes of knife blades having been given, a description of said blades will now be set forth. The knife blade 275e used for cutting slots in the height range A is of a reltaively short circumferential length. An arcuate notch 281 is cut out of the trailing outer peripheral edge portion of the blade to form a square corner 282, the radial height of the notch being substantially equal to the `difference in radial length between the outer radius of curvature of the male die and the outer radius curvature of the male knife blade. In other words, the arcuate notch is cut out of the rear portion or the portion of the knife blade that extends rearwardly from the knife assembly. The arcuate notch is cut out of the knife blade so that the square corner 282 may be positioned adjacent the pointed portion 261 and the clamping screw rearwardly of the offset 26u may be used to iix the knife blade in position. The square corner in this position cuts a slot of a very small height. The square corner is provided to yield a clean cut.

The arcuate 27641 has a leading Aedge portion 2te l2 which is spaced substantially behind the leading edge 233m and a trailing edge portion that extends rearwardly of the square corner 282. As previously mentioned the clamp screw 113 is fitted through the arcuate slot 276e in order to hold the knife 275a in position between the male ring and male die. The circumferential length of the slot and the cutting edge 28% determines the limits of heights in the range A that may be cut by blade 275a.

The knife blade 27Sb used for forming slots in the medium height range B has an arcuate slot 276k and an angular length of a longer circumferential length than the respective portions of the knife blade 275a. The square corner 282 is formed in the trailing edge of the knife blade 275b. As a result of the aforementioned location of the square corner and of the relative length of the arcuate slot to the angular length of the knife blade, there will be some overlap in the ranges of sizes cut by each of the knife blades. In other words the knife blade 2'75b will cut a slot of a height that falls within the lower end of the range of slots cut by the knife blade 275C and the upper end of the range of slots cut by the knife blade 2755.'.

The large range knife blade 275C is of a longer circumferential length than either of the previous mentioned knife blades and has the arcuate slot 276e formed in the central annular portion thereof. If the slot 27de were extended to a position adjacent the leading edge 243C, it would substantially overlap the range heights of slots cut by knife blad-e 275i). Additionally the arcuate slot is not extended to a point adjacent to the leading edge since to do so would substantially weaken the knife blade. Further the trailing edge-287 of the slot is located a substantial distance inwardly fi'om the trailing edge of the knife blade for reasons similar to lthose for the leading edge 286 being a substantial distance behind of the leading edge 233e. As a result of the location of the trailing edge 237 the minimum range of heights of slots cut by the blade is limited. However, this location of the slot does not prevents a certain amount of overlap between the large height range and the medium height range as previously mentioned. ln other words, the range of heights of slots cut by the blade 275e is limited by the location'of the leading edge 237 and the trailing edge 286 similarly as the ranges of heights of slots cut by the other two blades is limited by the leading and trailing edges of their respective arcuate slots. The height of the slot cut by the knife blade is determined by the location of the clamping screw insert therethrough relative to the leading and trailing edges of the slot.

`Although the knife assemblies illustrated have four spaced recesses 119 located in the planar faces thereof it is to be understood a greater number or smaller number of recesses may be provided. For example, a male die and ring having through spaced recesses 119 and appropriate apertures formed in the die may be advantageously used. In such an event the spacer 215 may be retained in Vposition diametrically opposite the offset 260 by a pair of clamp screws. A spacer of an angular length of approximately 30 may be used in conjunction with any one of the three sizes lof knife blades previously described.

For example, if the knife blade 275a were positioned between the portions of the offset 260 and it was desired to use the knife blade 275C for cutting a slot of larger height, then the clamp screw 118 that extends through the arcuate slot would be removed from the knife assembly. Upon removing the screw 11S, the other two clamp screws 118 holding the spacer in position will cause the offset portion -to spread axially. As a result of the offset portions spreading in an axial direction, the knife blade 275:2 may be removed from between the ring and male die. Having removed the knife blade 27Sa, the knife blade 275C may be inserted in its place.

After the clamping screw 118 is inserted in the respective openings formed in the male die, the ring and the arcuate slot 275e, it may be partially tightened. Then the length of the knife blade extending circumferentially forward in the direction of rotation of the knife may be adjusted to form the desired slot height before the screw is fully tightened. i

The structure of the two different embodiments of the cooperating pairs of Yentry knife assemblies having been described, the structure for rotatably mounting lthe shafts on which said assemblies are mounted will now be set forth. A pair of spaced rectangular apertures 133, 134 (see FIGURE 4) located directly above one another are formed in each of the side walls 11a, 11b of the frame for mounting the bearing housings 129, 130 therein. The bearing housings have mounted therein inner and outer races 131, spacers 132, and other conventional elements for journalling the respective ends of the knife assembly shafts; the structure in said housing being conventional, it will not be further described.

It may be noted by referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, that the vertical walls forming the bearing house apertures form a relatively close fit with said housing; and similarly the horizontal side walls -of the aperture 134 form a close fit with the horizontal surfaces of the female bearing housing 129. However, the apertures 133 in which the male bearing housings 130 are mounted are of considerably greater vertical depth than the height `of the vertical walls of the bearing housing mounted therein.

A strong coiled spring 137 is mounted in each of the male bearing house apertures such that one end thereof bears against the bottom surface of the said aperture while the upper end bears against the lower horizontal surface of the bearing housing, there being an offset 130e formed on the bearing housing to retain said spring in position. Since the aforementioned springs are in compression, they press the bearing housings upward against the top wall of said aperture.

.ournalled for rotation in the upper portion of each of the mounting blocks 11C is a horizontal rod 140, said rod extending through apertures formed in said bearing blocks. Mounted on the end of the rod that extends outwardly from the bearing block is a handle 141.

A recess 13S is formed in each of the bearing blocks beneath and around rod 140 such that the beveled gearing 142, 143 may be mounted therein. Beveled gears 143 are mounted on the rod 14), one beveled gear being located in each recess 138. The beveled gear 142, which is driven by beveled gear 143, has an internally threaded sleeve 142:1 depending therefrom and mounted for rotation in the block 11e. A threaded stud 144 extends through a vertical wall 136 in block 11C such that its inner end portion abuts against the ,top surface of the bearing housing 130 and its upper end is threaded in sleeve 142a. A cover 148 is provided for enclosing the recessed portion of the bearing block.

When handle 141 is turned, the rotary motion imparte to the horizontal rod 140 is transmitted through the beveled gearing to cause the threaded stud 144 to move in either an upward or downward direction, the direction depending upon the direction of rotation of said handle. If the handle were rotated such that the stud were moved in la downward direction, the bearing housing would be forced downwardly to compress the spring 137. Moving the bearing housing in a downward direction would decrease the distance between the male knife assemblyshaft and the female knife assembly shaft. If the handle is rotated in the opposite direction, the stud moves upwardly thus allowing the spring 137 to force the housing upwardly. Thus structure is provided for varying the distances between the two parallel knife assembly shafts 26 and 27.

It may be noted that a pair of arms 145 are mounted to be freely rotatable on rod 140, said arms carrying the cover 146. As shown in FIGURE 4, cover 146 is an open position. This cover Vencloses the slotter mechanism when the machine is not in use.

Referring now to FIGURE l, 4 and 7 the structure connecting the drive mechanism to the female knife assembly shaft will now be set forth. The pulley 24 is rotatably mounted on a bushing 153 that extensd inwardly through the central aperture in said pulley, said bushing being rotatably mounted on the female knife assembly shaft. The pulley may be rotated independently of rotation by the female knife assembly shaft. The pulley 24 is retained in place by a cup 155. A conventional clutch and fork 152 and 154 are used to drivenly connect the pulley to the female knife lassembly shaft, The aforementioned fork is operated by rod 151, said rod being connected to a lever which is mounted under the table 3i) and eX- tends loutwardly therefrom.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 4, 6, and 7 the structure of the iisrt embodiment of the cutting control and drive mechanism generally designated 15 will now be set forth. A gear housing is secured to the frame side 11C by appropriate means such as brackets 165C and bolts 1651). The housing has a cover 165e which is hingedly mounted on the side walls by hinges 165d. Enclosed within the gear housing are a plurality of gears mounted on their respective shafts, said shafts being journalled for rotation in the mounting block 11e.

The rotational movement transmitted to the female knife assembly shaft 26 through pulley 24 drives the male knife assembly shaft 27 by a system of gearing to be set forth hereinafter. A female drive gear 161 and timing gear segment 168 are secured to the opposite end of the female knife lassembly shaft 26 from the drive pulley 24.-. The female drive gear is keyed in the shaft and drives the timing mechanism through chain 159. The timing gear segment is mounted on the shaft for limited adjustable movement -relative thereto and drives the anti-backlash gear 171 and anti-backlash segment 162, said gears in turn driving the connecting gear 169. The connect-ing gear drives the male drive gear 150 and the anti-backlash segment 163 which .are mounted on one end of the male knife assembly shaft 27.

In order to have a fine positive cutting control a micrometer timing adjustment 164 is provided. The micrometer .adjustment is mounted on the end of the shaft 26 and bears against the face of the timing gear segment 158, said segment` being rotatably mounted for limited movement on the annular shoulder 16151 of the female drive gear 161. Three spaced curved elongated slots 165 are located in the timing gear segment outward from the shaft, said slots being approximately equal radial distances from :said shaft. Inserted in these slots are bolts 174 which are threaded in appropriate apertures formed in the female drive gear. When the bolts 174 are loose, the timing gear segment .may be rotated relative to the female drive gear; however, t-he angular displacement of the timing gea.`

segment relative to t-he drive gear is limited 'by the length of the elongated slots.

Secured to the outer end of the female knife assembly shaft by a pair of spaced screws 164d is the micrometer timing adjustment plate 161m, said screws being inserted through appropriate apertures formed in the plate and threaded into the shaft. A circular opening 164]: is made in the opposite end of the plate from screws 164d, the axis of said opening being parallel to the axis of the shaft 26. The circular opening is located adjacent the outer periphery of the timing gear segment. A pin 164C -is secured in 4an appropriate aperture in the timing gear segment to extend outwardly through the aforementioned opening 164b, said pin having -a smaller diameter than the opening. Thus provision is made for limited rotation of the timing gear segment relative to the plate.

Extending radially outwardly through the plate on the opposite sides of the opening and parallel to a diameter of the shaft 27 are a pair of threaded transverse openings having adjustment bolts 164e mounted therein, said bolts having lock nuts 164)c threaded thereon. The bolts are threaded in the opening to bear against the pin. The

aisance members 164e through 164]l inclusive provide a'micrometer timing adjustment.

The micrometer timing adjustment is made by first loosening the bolts 17d so that the timing gear segment may be rotated relative to the female driving gear 161. Then the bolts 164e are turned `in the same direction such that the timing gear segment is either rotated clockwise or counter clockwise relative to the plate 164g, said plate being stationary relative t0 the female knife assembly shaft. When the timing gear segment has been rotated an appropriate amount (the amount of rotation possibly being equal to the distance between the center portions of gear teeth of gear 16S), the bolts 164e are tightly secured against the pin 16de by turning down the locking nuts 1641 Next the bolts 174 vare tightened down such that the power of rotation `supplied to the female drive gear is transmitted to the timing gear segment through frictional engagement of said gear and segment to lessen any danger of shearing pin 164C.

Both the connecting gear 169 4and the anti-backlash gear 171 along with the bushings 178 inserted in the central apertures 179 formed in said gears 179, 171 are mounted for rotation on the respective shafts 180, said shafts being journalled for rotation in frame side wall 11a. The bushings 173 and the gears 161i, 171 are retained in position Ion one end of shafts 1S@ by studs 176, said studs having an enlarged annular portion 177. Between the opposite sides of each of the gears from the studs and the frame, the bushing has an enlarged shoulder portion 178cz that spaces the gears outwardly from the frame and eliminates play in the gears. The opposite end of each of `the shafts 18) extends inwardly to adjacent recesses 133 formed in the side wall 11a of the frame, said recesses having a larger diameter than the shaft. The opposite end lof the shaft is maintained in the frame by a cap bolt 176 secured in the end Vof the shaft and a washer 17611 mounted on said bolt between the head thereof and the shaft, a portion of the periphery of said washer abutting against the surface forming the recess.

The anti-backlash gear 171 has an annular flange por- `tion 171a on which the annular anti-backlash segment gear 162 is mounted for limited rotatable movement relative thereto. A pair of arcuate slots 166 diametrically opposite one another are for-med in the anti-backlash gear similar to the arcuate slot 166 formed in the timing gear segment. A pair of tightening bolts 17e are inserted through the pair of diametrically opposite slots and are threaded in .appropriate apertures formed in the drive gear segment 162. The anti-backlash gear and the anti-backlash segment are securedtogther in tight functional engagement by tightening b-olts 17d ,for reasons similar for using bolts 174 in the female drive gear and the timing gear segment.

Located in the louter peripheral portion of gear 171 spaced 90 from slots 166 are apertures 166i). Adjacent each of the outer two apertures 1156]? in the drive gear segment are a pair of elongated generally hemispherical indents 173. A stud 181 having a pointed portion 181m is threaded in said aperture such that the aforementioned point `will engage the surface of the hemispherical indent.. Thus, for example, by turning the stud in an outward direction, the drive gear segment 162 may be rotated until the surface of the indent again engages the point of the stud (provided bolts 174 are not tightened). After the drive gear segment has been rotated until the surface of the hemispherical indent engages the point `of the stud 181, the locking nuts 182 are tightened to retain said studs in the adjusted position. After the locking nuts have been tightened, the bolts 17dare tightened such that the power transmitted from the shaft to the anti-backlash gear will be transmitted through the anti-backlash segment 162 without shearing the studs 181.

The male drive ge-ar 161B has the anti-backlash gear segment 163 mounted thereon similarly as the anti-backlash segment 162 is mounted on the anti-backlash gear 171.

Also, there are provided adjustment studs 151 threaded through the male drive gear to engage the generally hemispherical indents in the yanti-backlash gears segment 163, said studs having locking nuts 182 mounted thereon to provide an adjustment as that described `for members 162, 171. (The section through the male drive gear 16@ and the anti-backlash ysegment 163 of FIGURE 4 is illustrated similar to the section 7-7 through the anti-backlash gear 171 for showing the structure thereof.) Tightening bolts 174 maintains the anti-backlash segment 163 in position relative to the male drive gear. The male drive gear is keyed 'on the male knife assembly shaft such that rotation of the gear causes the shaft t-o rotate.

Formed in the male knife assembly shaft are a pair -of keyways spaced outwardly from the male drive gear. These keyways each have a key 136 firmly secured therein. Mounted on the shaft outwardly from said keys is a spring loaded crankshaft 17d (FIGURE 4) that automatically disengages the hand crank (not shown) when the machine is under power, a portion of said crankshaft engaging the keys 136.

The structure of the first embodiment yof the cutting control and anti-backlash mechanism having been described, tlie structure of a second embodimentvthereof will now be set forth. The second embodiment yof the cutting control and anti-backlash mechanism, generally designated 301) is illustrated in FlGURES 20, 2l, and 22.

-T he gear housing 361 is secured to the mounting block 11C by appropriate means such as latches 392 which are held in place by bolts and wing nuts 363. Enclosed within the gear housing are a plurality `of gears and gear shaft which provide a driving -connection between female knife assembly shaft 394 and the male knife assembly shaft 365. The ends of the knife assembly shafts are mounted in bearing housing 129, 13d, said housings in turn being mounted in appropriate apertures 134, 133 located in the frame Wall. The aforementioned bearing housings lare mounted in their respective bearing housing apertures 134, 133 lsimilarly as said housings were mounted in the previous embodiment.

The female knife assembly shaft 364 extends outwardly bey-ond the bearing housing 129 to provide structure for mounting the female drive gear 161, said gear being keyed thereto and providing means for driving the timing and feed mechanism through the drive chain 159. The shaft 394 has a female shaft extension 3116 which mounts structure to be described hereinafter. Similarly the male knife assembly shaft 3155 is provided with a shaft extension 3417 The female drive gear 161 has an outwardly extending annular flange por-tion 161a, for mounting the female drive segment 310 thereon, said segment having a central aperture whose axis coincides with the axis of the shaft extension. A plurality yof bolts 312 are extended through spaced apertures formed in the segment and threaded into appropriate apertures formed in the drive gear 161, said apertures having a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of rotationof the shaft 3116. A tapered flange bushing 311 is mounted in the aforementioned central aperture in the female gear segment to help retain said gear in a position on lthe shaft extension 306.

Spaced `outwardly on the shaft extension 3116 from the drive gear and gear segment is a hand wheel 347. The hand wheel is secured on the shaft extension by appropriate means such as a set screw 3458 and key and keyway 3419. The purpose of providing the aforementioned hand wheel will be set forth hereinafter.

The opposite end of the female Iknife assembly shaft from the female gear segment is driven by appropriatae means described heretofore. The female gear segment 31d drives a lower eccentric mounted gear 317 which in turn drives an upper eccentric idler gear 322. The idler gear 322 drives the male drive gear 33d which is rotatably mounted on the male shaft extension 367. The lower mOlmtQd gear 317 and the upper eccentric gear are 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING SLOTS IN BOX BLANK COMPRISING A FRAME, A FIRST SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME, A SECOND SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME PARALLEL TO THE FIRST SHAFT, MEANS ON THE FRAME FOR DRIVINGLY ROTATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS, A PAIR OF COOPERATING KNIFE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE SHAFTS TO ROTATE WITH THE SHAFTS FOR FORMING SLOTS IN THE BOX BLANKS AS THE BLANKS ARE PASSED BETWEEN THE SHAFTS, SAID KNIFE MEANS INCLUDING A MALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID SHAFTS, SAID MALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CURVED KNIFE BLADE, AN ANNULAR MALE DIE, A RING REMOVABLY ATTACHABLE TO THE MALE DIE FOR HOLDING THE MALE KNIFE BLADE THEREBETWEEN, SAID MALE DIE AND RING EACH HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING OFFSET FORMED INTEGRALLY THEREWITH OF A CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH LESS THAN ONE-AHLF OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE MALE DIE AND MALE RING RESPECTIVELY, SID OFFSETS BEING SLANTED INWARDLY TOWARD A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TOWARD THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE MALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY TO FORM IN A BOX BLANK A SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED NOTCH THAT EXTENDS IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE MALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY AND MEANS FOR CLAMPINGLY RETAINING OF THE MALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY AND MEANS DIE TOGETHER IN VARIOUS SELECTED LIITED ADJUSTED ANGULAR POSITIONS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER WHILE RETAINING THE SAME AXIAL RELATIONSHIP OF SAID KNIFE BLADE, RING AND MALE DIE; AND A FEMALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE OTHER SHAFT, SAID FEMALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN ANNULAR FEMALE DIE AND A RING MEMBER REMOVABLY ATTACHABLE TO THE FEMALE DIE WITH A SPACE INTERMEDIATE THE RING MEMBER EACH BEING MEMBER, SAID FEMALE DIE AND RING MEMBER EACH BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED AND INCLUDING A RADIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING CUTOUT PORTION FORMED IN THE OUTER PERIPHERAL PORTION THEREOF AND SHAPED TO PERMIT A CLOSE INTERMESHING FIT WITH THE OFFSETS OF THE MALE DIE AND RING WHEN THE MALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY AND FEMALE KNIFE ASSEMBLY ARE MOUNTED ON RESPECTIVE SHAFTS TO HAVE THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACES LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER AND MEANS FOR CLAMPINGLY RETAINING THE RING MEMBER AND FEMALE DIE TOGETHER IN VARIOUS SELECTED LIMITED ADJUSTED ANGULAR POSITIONS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER WHILE RETAINING THE SAME AXIAL RELATIONSHIP OF SAID RING MEMBER AND FEMALE DIE. 